Fuel-supply reservoir for internal-combustion engines



`March 10, 1925.-l 1,529,160

H; P. BRA-EUTIGAM -FUEL. SUPPLY RESERVOIR FO R 'INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINES Filed Fels. 24, 1923 4 Patented Mar. l0, 1 925.`

UNITED srnrlzs PATENT OFFICE;J

HENRY P. BRAEUTIGAM, OF D'AYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 DELCO-LIGH-T COMPANY,OF I DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FUEL-SUPPLY RESERVOIR. ron INTERNAL-comiaUsTIoN ENGINES.

Application led February 24, l1923. Serial No. 621,113

, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery', and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain.

new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Supply Reservoirs forInternal-Combustion Engines, ofvwhich the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.-

The present mvention relates to liquid containers and has among itsobjects to provide a container with means for varying the extent towhich a liquid can be introduced into lit before overflowing at thefiller-openlng. i L

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein preferred embodiments Vof the vpresent invention areclearly shown:

In Kthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partlyin section showing a vessel embodyingthe presentinvention adapted for use as a fuel tank for an internal-combustionengine; and

Fia'. 2 is a view partlyin section of a modified form thereof.

The present invention contemplates broadly'the provision of avesselhaving a filler opening, means for preventing the escape of air from thevessel after a certain amount of liquid has been introduced in order tolimit the extent to which .liquid can be introduced before overflowing,at the filler opening, and means for changing the air trapping capacityof the vessel.

Referring to Fig. 1, 2O is an engine to Vwhich is connected' a fuelinlet pipe 2l.

Pipe 21 extends into a tank 22, the opening in the tank through whichthe pipe extends is sealed by any suitable coupling'23.

Tank 22 has an annular flange 24 depending from the topwall of the tanktoward the bottom wall thereof. Flange 24 provides a filler opening orpassage 25- extending from thinterior of the tank to the atmosphere.Passage 25 is provided with a cover 26 having a small air vent 27 and ispivotally mounted upon a bolt 28.

A screw 29 is `provided in the top wall of the tank 22 and is adapted toclosejan opening leading from the interior 'of the tank.

r)he fuel for the internal-combustion engine is poured into the tankthrough the passsage 25. As the fuel is 4being I poured into said tankair will be pushed out through the passage 25. When the fuel risesslightly above the lower edge 31 of the 'flange 24 said fuel will sealthe lower end ofthe passage 25' and prevent thefurther escape l of airfrom the ltank 22.

In thismanner an air .pocket is formed in the upper part of the tank 22this pocket belng bounded by the liquid'level, the side and top walls ofthe vtank and the `outer lWall of flange 25. After the lower edge 31 ofthe flangel 24 is covered,but"little more fuel can be poured into thetank 22 in addition to that' amount which thepassage 25 sure withinthetank. v

If it is desirable to fill the` tank 22. completely with fuel, the screw29 is withdrawn is adapted to hold `because of the air preswhereby theair, instead of kbeing pocketed in the upper part of tank 22, can escapethrough the opening 30. In this manner the air trapping capacity of thetank is decreased and itsliquid containing capacity increased.

Thentility of this device will be apparent when considering itsapplication as a fuel. tank for an internal-combustion engine andparticularly to that type of internal-combustion engine which is usedfor drivingl a generating unit for charging storage batteries. In thesale of battery charging plants it vmay be desirable to provide one typeof plant for charging batteries of various capacities. For example, acertain plant could be used to charge an 8O ampere hou-r battery or a160 amperehour battery. lf the tank 22 is constructed to contain enoughfuel when completely .filled 'to operatethe engine long enough to chargethe 160 ampere hour battery, the screw 29 is omitted. Therefore thetotal fuel capacity of the tank 22 serves as a measure ofthe duration ofengine operatiop. But if the plant is sold with an 80 ampere hourbattery the screw 29 is permitted to remain in the position shown. Thelength of the flange 24 is such as to make the fuel capacity of the tankapproximately one half what it would be if the screw 29 were removed.Therefore it is only necessary to instruct the attendant to fill thetank to overflowing when the batteries need charging to bring thebatteries up to full charge. The air trap will limit the operation ofthe engine to the llO llCl

charge periodl when the smallv battery is used.: VThe .modiati'on'showninv Fig-.i2 shows a tank in which the capacity thereofycanlbe \'f ariedto any/suitable degree. this the tank isl 'screvvthr'eaded tohrecei'v 35to provide i edge thereof Mfiiv'll "move vertically" upvva'd to decreasetank` ndg' to increaseits'liquid containing 'capaci y; .Sleeve 85T canbelooked intoaan position 4.by lmeans of ai lock nut 3362;` f 'n ,e/While;theI `form of mechanism herein .shown and described constitutes apreferred embodiment otone form of invention, it is,

-to be lunderstood that other lforms might bel adoptedand variouschanges and alterations made in the shape, Size, and proportion of theelements therein without departing from the spirit and scope oftheinvention.

'WVhatl is claimed is as lfollows: 1. A container having a filleropening and means for varyingthe amount oi liquid introduced throgighsaidopening 'intosaid containerbefo're overflowing. l

12A container having a means for trapplng a quantity of air in thecontainer after a certain amount of liquid has been introduced throughthe filler openingto limit the amount of liquid introduced beforeoverfiowing, and meansfo'rchanging the quantity of alr trapped.

3.Y A container having top, bottom,- and side walls, a flange extendingfrom the top wall toward the bottom wall, the space within the flangeproviding a ller opening, the `space above surface of the li uid in thec'ontainer and bounded by the si e and top walls -for .whereby toincrease the e Y. Capacity of eh the passage7 25;` `When this sleeve isscrewedzoutrolf, the ...tank thglower.

ure I viding an filler opening,

an -air.k pocket which limits. .the iliqui Stora' eicapacity-:fthe-container;- and means liquid 9013i le v"Wall toward'thelbbttm vall;thespace withthe air' trappmg capaeity @father ing-the :ilangehprpyidinga iiller opening, the space above surface of. the `li uid in theecreasing the air trapping capacity! bottoin, and Y container andbounded bythe side and4 top yWalls L and ithe exterior ,'o'- "said,lflange i proair pocket which-limits the liquid storagel capacity of--the containenand lmeans for venting the airy trap spacewherebythecontainer maybefilled with-liquid.. i

5. A container `having means forjpermit-4 ting a quantity ofdiqmdjtobeintroduced therein anda quantitymof airy to be` trapped therein to limitthe amount 'ofliquid .introduced before overiiowingand meansfordecreasing the airtra ping capacity and for' increaslng the liqui-containing capacity of the contalner.. y

6'. Anair tight container vhaving a .filler opening, and means fortrappinga quantity of air within the container after a certain I'amountAof liquid 4has been `.introduced through the filler o ening, to.thereby limit the amount of liqui introducedbefore overowing- Intestimony whereof I hereto aiiix my signature.

HENRY P. BRAEUTIGAM. Witnesses:

MILDRED Turm, WARREN- SICHNIEDING l

